Your Board met on Monday to cover the usual business and to take a look at the way we're dealing with masks and Covid in general ... and how this has affected our Club.
You all know attendance has been sorely impacted: Friday's meeting had nine physical attendees and ten via Zoom (not counting the speaker). Our Club currently has 52 active members (this doesn't include 4 honorary members). We're averaging about 40% of our pre-Covid attendance.
Starting with this Friday's meeting: All in-person attendees must be vaccinated and masked. We're not going to ask for proof of vaccination. We'll let the four-way test handle that. Unvaccinated people attend via Zoom, & we genuinely wish they do so.
If you eat or drink at the meeting, you'll see two special tables set aside for you. Most of the room will be for people not eating or drinking, and they'll be wearing masks all the time. You'll have your mask off while eating/drinking, obviously, but put it back on when you're done. The meeting runner and Board members in attendance will lovingly poke members who've let their masks slip.
People at the microphone may remove their mask while they're there. No removal of masks when talking from the floor ... just go to the microphone and remove your mask.
We want the safest, healthiest environment for members to enjoy what they primarily come to the Club FOR: fellowship. We want to re-establish the importance of regular attendance in our members' lives. We can't do the good we do without engaged members. We think many have just gotten out of the habit of attending meetings regularly, especially in light of Covid. We want to change that. We NEED to change that the Board hopes this revised policy encourages more members to attend the meetings in person. elatedly, we're aware that our usage of Zoom has been too often problematic. We know this is an issue and we're working on it. R
We'll do this in the context of RI's having spent over two billion dollars over the years promoting and delivering polio vaccines around the world as part of its life-affirming commitment. RI headquarters in Evanston admit no one without proof of vaccination. And our policy puts us in line with Dane County's mandate, as well as the guidance provided by our District Governor We will review this policy regularly. We hope that Covid continues its downward trend. We'll follow Dane County on refining our mask policy. We have moved our Fiftieth Anniversary event from January to the spring in the hope that the Covid situation is better, and that we can hold part of the event outdoors.
Finally, please, please make a hearty effort to attend meetings in person. Venue directions are in the Bulletin. Your Club needs you.
If you have questions about this new policy, please reach out to President-Elect Kathy Roberg at kar8525@gmail.com
Rick Raemisch is a former Dane County Sheriff and top corrections official for both Wisconsin and Colorado. He’ll speak on Rethinking Corrections in America. He’s an authority on the subject, consulting widely in the U.S. and overseas and speaking at many conferences.
Birthdays:
November 03: Ruth Domack
November 16: Mary Cobb Dunn
November 25: Joe Valenta
November 30: Tony Burns
Anniversaries:
November 27: Joe Valenta,21 years
Join Date:
November 01: John Gerold, 50 years
November 01: Mary Beth Growney-Selene, 34 years
November 01: Jerry McAdow, 50 years
November 01: Peder Moren, 46 years
November 14: Deb Dieter, 24 years
November : Todd Wiegand, 5 years
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
November 12 UW professor and decorated geologist, Eric Carson will discuss 2.5 million Years of Glaciers on Earth and in Wisconsin. Eric has talked to us at the Pope Farm. Don’t miss this informative and historic presentation.
November 19 District Governor Karen Hebert will talk about the state of affairs in our District and beyond. Karen noted that it is our 50th anniversary.
November 26 No meeting (Thanksgiving)
December 03 Our own Kathy Roberg as a member of "Walking Each Other Home" will talk on the conversation none of us wants to have, Death and Dying.
December 10Middleton School Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue
December 24 and 31 No Meeting
January 7 Veterinarian Dr. Marty Greer will talk about her drive-thru pet clinic. She and her husband, also a vet, own three animal clinics in Wisconsin but their newest clinic, Checkout Veterinary in Sun Prairie, is a drive-through wellness pet clinic and the only one of its kind in the U.S. -- the concept is patented. Pet owners love this concept of no waiting room, of not having to fend off bigger dogs.
January 14 Jim Emerick's son Tyler and daughter-in-law Meredith Emerick will talk about Adopting Children in China.
We will be meeting at Holy Wisdom Monastery on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 5:30 pm. The address is 4200 CR-M, Middleton, Wisconsin. It’s on Century Avenue near Bishop’s Bay. The program is in the works. Put it in your calendar.
At our last meeting, Mike Dillis, Assistant to the District Governor and Chair of the District 6250 Hybrid Meeting Task Force, sat in and observed. He followed that up with comments, suggestions, and resources to selected Board members. He saw ways for us to improve the user experience for our Zoomers. We’re digesting these suggestions, and you can expect to see changes in the coming weeks.
Lizzy Gietman has resigned from the Club due to an imminent move to Green Bay for work.
We have a new member application from Kevin Hayden, sponsored by Mary Beth Growney-Selene. Classification is Healthcare, Retired. This is his second mention in the Bulletin
The Wisconsin Academic Decathlon The State Competition takes place Thursday-Friday, February 24-25, 2022
at the Wilderness Resort/Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells.
Our Club has participated – and for years funded the meal – for many years. It’s an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here’s a link to the Volunteer section of their website.
The meeting place is Serendipity Labs, a co-working facility on the sixth floor of the Johnson Bank Building at 525 Junction Road (right next to Panera Bread). We’re in the SOUTH TOWER. Parking is easy and undercover. We’re doing this on a month-to-month basis right now, but it may lead to a long-term arrangement. The space is ample.
Our meeting place is circled in red on this map. 6th floor. For parking, follow the blue arrow on the map to underground parking. Go left once you enter the ramp. Parking is free; park in any unassigned spot. Go to the covered walkway to enter the building and grab the elevator to the sixth floor.
Paul Patenaude is taking the lead in rounding up riders and money pledges for this Polio Ride scheduled for November 6. Contact Paul for details at ppaten98@gmail.com.
Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, PO Box 620312, Middleton WI 53562
We meet at Serendipity Labs, 6th floor Johnson Bank Building, SOUTH TOWER, 525 Junction Road (right next to Panera Bread) We’re doing this on a month-to-month basis right now, but it may lead to a long-term arrangement.
Fridays at 12:12 PM
The meetings combine a live, in-person element with the capability to join via Zoom.
We are the self-anointed ‘Coolest Rotary Club in the World.’
Our website is mwt-mrotaryclub.org
Executives
President
Connie Fish
President-Elect
Kathy Roberg
Secretary
Jack Ferreri
Treasurer
Matt Loch
Club Service
Dean Ryerson & Rod Nilles
Community Service
Abby Benbow & Todd Wigand
International Service
Paul Patenaude & Mary Cobb Dunn
Vocational Service
Roxanne Brazeau & Jim Emerick
We meet
FRIDAYS at 12:12 pm
at
Serendipity Labs, Suite 6500 Johnson Bank Building 525 Junction Road Madison, Wisconsin 53717
At our last meeting, Mike Dillis, Assistant to the 
